New documentary claims that the love of Princess Diana’s life is not who you think

It’s a well-known fact that the marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was plagued with problems. Some biographers even claim that the problems began before the couple said ‘I do’.

Therefore it’s not surprising that Prince Charles is not considered the love of Princess Diana’s life. Which leads many to wonder, who was?

Princess Diana died in 1997 in a tragic car accident in Paris. The mother-of-two was only 36 at the time. However, in her short life, Diana did have the chance to experience love, and be swept off her feet by some charismatic and charming suitors.

Her famous affair with James Hewitt still makes headlines today due to the rumour that he is Prince Harry’s real father. This rumour supposedly ‘pushed Diana over the edge’ and has also been firmly denied by James Hewitt himself.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles finally divorced in 1996 after a tumultuous and bitter separation. Her relationship with Harrod’s heir Dodi Al Fayed began after the two met during a holiday in Saint Tropez. Their ill-fated romance soon became public knowledge. However, Dodi was sadly killed in the same accident in Paris that claimed Diana’s life.

Although many believe that Dodi was the love of Diana’s life, a new documentary called The Last 100 Days of Diana claims to reveal the real love of Princess Diana’s life. And it’s not Dodi.

The secret Princess Diana doctor romance

In the programme, it is claimed that Hasnat Khan, a surgeon of Pakistani descent who worked in London, was the true love of Diana’s life. The Princess met Khan in a hospital where her friend was being treated and it is said that she fell for him straight away. Apparently she thought he was “drop-dead gorgeous”, however their subsequent relationship was fraught with problems due to the intense public interest in Princess Diana’s love-life after her divorce, and the media scrutiny of her life.

Princess Diana stops in a black BMW to talk to Doctor Hasnat Khan in secret outside the Royal Brompton Hospital in 1996

But, this didn’t stop Diana falling for Khan, who she affectionately referred to as ‘Mr Wonderful’. Khan claimed he wasn’t aware of Princess Diana’s blossoming relationship with Dodi, and the pair were considering taking things to the next step.

“Both my parents, grandmother and all close relatives who met Diana liked her very much” Khan has previously revealed.

“They were very much happy for us to make a decision ourselves and made it clear they would support it 100 per cent. We both had their blessing.”

Speaking 16 years after her death, Hasnat Khan, the assumed ‘love of her life’, spoke about the difficulty of coming to terms with Diana’s death.

“It’s been difficult for me to get my head around Diana’s death or talk about it”

“It’s been difficult for me to get my head around Diana’s death or talk about it. After she died things were difficult, very difficult.

“We all have our own traumas and get on with it. But when it’s there in your face year in, year out, it’s hard.”

This year, on the 20th anniversary of her death, all those who loved Diana will no doubt feel her loss greatly. Her sons, William and Harry, plan to honour their mother’s memory this year. In addition, Kensington Palace are currently running an exhibition called Diana: Her Fashion Story, in memory of the late Princess.